21 Best Medical Podcasts to Subscribe to in 2021

Whether you are an aspiring physician or experienced in your specialty, we have no doubt that you are passionate about the medical industry. You know it’s important to stay up to date on the latest advances, industry news, and truly enjoy stories related to medicine, science, and helping others.

Podcasts have been around for a long time but they have been gaining a newfound popularity as of late. We are in what some people are calling the “Podcast Renaissance.” With better than ever content, podcasts are the hot new way to get your news and hear fascinating stories and ideas.  

We’ve compiled a list of the top medical podcasts for healthcare professionals. From advice for medical students to medical news for physicians, and all-around inspiring stories, there is something for everyone.

Medical Podcasts for students:

Board Rounds

Board Rounds is one of the newest medical podcasts, created by Meded Media and BoardVitals. Hosted by Dr. Ryan Gray, Dr. Mike Natter, Dr. Karen Shackelford and Dr. Andrea Paul of BoardVitals, each episode is centered around the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 exams with the purpose of helping medical students make sure they are as prepared as possible to take their board exams.

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podcasts for medical professionals

The Short Coat Podcast

“What no one tells you about medical school is just how remarkable it really is. Thanks to the medical students at the University of Iowa and their co-host Dave Etler, you have a window into what *really* happens here at the margins of medicine, and we’re here for you every week.”

The Short Coat Podcast is great for those who are thinking about pursuing med school or are already in med school. This medical podcast gives students insight into what medical school is like. Some of their latest episodes focus on mental illness during med school and whether you have to sacrifice all of your outside interests to succeed in med school.

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podcasts for medical professionals

The Undifferentiated Medical Student

“The Undifferentiated Medical Student podcast is about helping medical students to choose a medical specialty and plan a career in medicine. The list of career options available to medical students is large, but the time to explore them all is short.”

Hosted by Ian Drummond, a 4th-year medical student, the Undifferentiated Medical Student podcast is geared towards medical students who are lost when it comes to choosing the right path for their future medical careers. Their medical podcasts are interview-based with physicians from specialties and subspecialties listed on the AAMC’s Careers in Medicine website.

“I really enjoy it and the physicians that are interviewed give amazing advice for students and insights into their specialties.” – AK47XLAX

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The Clinical Problem Solvers

This internal medicine podcast focuses on sharing expert opinions in diagnostic reasoning. Listeners will develop a framework for approaching future clinical problems. Each episode takes a case-based process to educate audiences on building a network for improving diagnosis.

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Medical Podcasts about the healthcare industry:

Surviving Medicine

This podcast was founded by a group of medical students, residents, and physicians. They interview medical professionals and discuss a variety of topics related to medicine and medical education in the present day and the future of the healthcare industry. Check out the episode featuring BoardVitals Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Andrea Paul, where she discusses her journey from med school to starting her own business and becoming a physician entrepreneur.

“The host, Frank Cusimano, brings such a wide variety of people in medicine on the podcast and provides unique stories of the beauty in medicine and in life. This podcast has truly expanded my mind of what is possible in the vast world of medicine.” – Eric Jones

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podcasts for medical professionals

TEDTalks: Science and Medicine

“Some of the world’s greatest scientists, doctors and medical researchers share their discoveries and visions onstage at the TED conference.”

TED is a nonprofit dedicated to spreading ideas in the form of talks covered in a broad range of topics. Their Science and Medicine podcast is video based with talks from world renowned medical professionals and scientists from all backgrounds. Visit ted.com to download their videos for free, access English transcripts, and even subtitles in over 80 languages.

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podcasts for medical professionals

Docs Outside the Box

“This podcast looks into the minds of cutting-edge and innovative doctors. You won’t find these stories in any medical textbook. You’re getting real, live insight from men and women pushing the envelope beyond medicine”

Dr. Nii Darko is among our 50 favorite doctors to follow on Instagram. His Docs Outside the Box podcast features ordinary doctors doing extraordinary things in the field of medicine. Great for physicians seeking inspirational stories and interviews from other physicians.

“I absolutely love this podcast! As a recent residency graduate, I find myself constantly thinking about my future and what I want out of it. A lot of my thoughts involve doing things a little “outside the box” of medicine but I often feel that most of my colleagues can’t relate to a similar mindset. However, this podcast allows me to hear from doctors who have successfully done things differently, which is very encouraging.” – Abimbola Odukoya Shonuga

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podcasts for medical professionals

2 Docs Talk

“Join cohosts Kendall Britt, MD and Amy Rogers, MD for a 15 minute check up on current issues in medicine and health policy. The doctors examine current medical concerns in light of the best available medical evidence and the policy issues of the day with a focus on their impact on the doctor patient relationship.”

Dr. Kendall Britt, a practicing hospitalist, and Dr. Amy Rogers, a medical writer, make up the 2 Docs Talk podcast where they discuss health care topics they want consumers to be aware of so they can be better equipped to partner with their physicians to make health decisions together.

“While the focus is on patients who want to become better informed before having a consultation with their physicians, it’s a podcast that medical professionals will want to listen to as well.” – Stephen O’Connor

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podcasts for medical professionals

Everyday Emergency

“Welcome to Everyday Emergency, bringing you true stories from people on the frontline of humanitarian emergencies across the world.”

The nonprofit organization, Doctors Without Borders, runs the Everyday Emergency podcast where they speak to medical and logistical experts working in areas around the world where medical care is needed the most.

“Absolutely fascinating! One of the best podcasts around – really amazing stories from people doing incredible work!” – PodMan81

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podcasts for medical professionals

Second Opinion

“An examination of medical ethics and the practitioners who define them.”

Second Opinion is a KCRW podcast hosted by Dr. Michael Wilkes, a Professor of Medicine and Vice Dean for Medical Education at UC Davis. Dr. Wilkes discusses matters people face when making medical decisions and he’s not afraid to call out the pharmaceutical and health insurance industries on medical ethics.

“I appreciate Dr. Wilkes not shying from the more controversial medical subjects. I wish my own medical professionals had that freedom……but malpractice fears surely keep them silent.” – iRok

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podcasts for medical professionals

Bedside Rounds

“The world of medicine is full of wonderful, weird, and intensely human stories. Bedside Rounds seeks to tell a handful of these tales and to educate as well as entertain.”

The Bedside Rounds podcast is hosted by Dr. Adam Rodman, an academic global health hospitalist, who started this podcast back when he was an Internal Medicine Resident. If you enjoy interesting narrative stories in clinical medicine, this podcast is for you.

“This podcast has really hit its stride recently! Short, entertaining, enlightening stories from the history and present of medicine. As a doctor, most of these I either didn’t know about, or was only aware tangentially. Really speaks to the human side of medicine.” – the masked doctor

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The Curbsiders

The Curbsiders team is a national network of students, residents, and clinician educators from across the country representing 15 different institutions. On each episode, doctors Matthew Watto, Stuart Brigham, and Paul Williams combine new medical knowledge, study advice, and a healthy dose of humor for students, residents, and current practitioners.

This podcast is ideal for those in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Primary Care, and Hospital Medicine. CME/MOC points are available for American College of Physicians (ACP) members.

“I listened to The Curbsiders throughout school and now during practice. The way they turn complicated topics into more easily manageable problems is extremely helpful.” – mmcfaddin

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Physician’s Guide to Doctoring

What should you have been learning while you were memorizing Kreb’s Cycle? This medical podcast is a practical guide for practicing physicians and other healthcare practitioners who are eager to improve in all aspects of life and practice. Physician and non-physician experts are interviewed on a wide range of topics, ranging from emotional intelligence and habit development to social media and the current state of health insurance.

“There are a lot of podcasts out there competing for our time. This is one of the few that is worthy of our attention. Dr. Block does a superb job at choosing guests that have something worthy to share and then gently guides them through a conversation that is both engaging and enjoyable for the listener.” – SK1 MD

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The House of Pod

The House of Pod features two doctors and a guy named Joe, who cover many medical related topics and answer questions from listeners. Guests have included physicians and surgeons, with topics covering medical and societal issues. Each episode sheds new light into the medical world. 

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Doctors Unbound

Doctors have one of the most important jobs in the world. But what about when they leave the office for the day? Doctors Unbound shares inspiring stories of doctors doing interesting things outside the world of clinical medicine. From starting a business to entering politics, episodes give you a behind-the-scenes look at doctors doing amazing things. 

“Great inspiration for physicians who feel somewhat trapped by the medical industrial complex and are looking to explore ways to be more creative with their careers.” – Gerads

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The Nocturnists

Listen to tales of joy, sorrow, and self-discovery from a team of doctors. Hosted by physician Emily Silverman, The Nocturnists is a live show and podcast broadcast from San Francisco. This podcast delivers stories about health, illness, and human connection.

“As someone who has worked in an allied health profession for over 30 years, it is heartening to hear the stories of people in the trenches.” – Whataboutbarb

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Explore the Space Podcast

Healthcare and society combine in one of the most insightful medical podcasts available, featuring discussions with thought leaders from across the spectrum. Episodes cover topics ranging from burnout to gender equality. 

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Oncology Overdrive

oncology overdrive medical podcasts

In this podcast, Shikha Jain, MD, FACP, covers a series of topics related to modern day healthcare. Through interviews with experts, Jain explores subjects like gender discrimination, social media, and stereotypes in medicine.

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Talk2MeDoc

Andrew Tisser, DO, one of our top doctors to follow on Instagram presents a physician-hosted podcast interviewing a wide variety of guests about issues relating to the early career physician. What is wrong and how do we fix it? In this show, you will learn different pitfalls, tips and tricks, as well as varied perspectives on finances, burnout/moral injury, advocacy, private practice and other important issues as they pertain to physicians early in their career. Guests will range from large hospital system CEOs to clerical/facilities staff and everyone in between.

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MDFEME

MDFEME is presented by a community of female physicians, including Akua Ampadu, MD, who work together to tackle matters in medicine, family life, and self-care. The MDFEME podcast provides insight into the lives of female minority physicians and how they navigate issues of racial and gender inequality in healthcare.

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Glass Half Healthy

Dr. Jonar de Guzman, a board certified physician, aims to address the current crisis of chronic disease and to challenge the conventional attitude towards health. In his Glass Half Healthy podcast, he presents ways for those living with chronic disease to protect themselves, and works to redefine what health should mean for all of us.

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There are many other great medical podcasts for healthcare professionals out there that you should check out. Not only are they both educational and interesting, but they can really make you think about the kind of doctor you want to be. Listening to these is a great way to take a break when you have been studying or seeing patients for a while, or just when you need some entertainment. Enjoy!

Let us know in the comments what other medical podcasts for healthcare professionals you recommend.